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Aug. 2, 1927. 1,637,837

G. W. SHAW CIRCUIT CLOSER Filed Feb. 1, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 IJVVHTOR Gen e G. W. SHAW CIRCUIT CLOSER Aug. 2, 1927.

Filed Feb. 1, 1923 4 Shoots-Sheet 2 G. W. SHAW CIRCUIT CLOSER Aug. 2,

Gauge Aug. 2 1927.

G. W. SHAW CIRCUIT CLOSER Filed Feb. 1, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 III/{J2EE am d 245/2 Patented Aug. 2, 1927.

UNITED STATES GEORGE W. SHAW, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

CIRCUIT CLOSER.

Application filed February 1, 1923.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in a circuit closer, and has for its primary object the provision of a simple and effective means for controlling the circuit through an audible or visible electric alarm or signal.

Another object of the invention is to provide a structure of this character wherein the operating member or members extend approximately around at least onehalf of the steering wheel of an automobile so as to be readily accessible regardless of the position of said steering wheel.

A further object ofthe invention is to provide an oscillating member adapted to be mounted upon the steering column and provided with suitable contact members for controlling different electrical circuits, said oscillating member having means arranged adjacent the rim of the steering. wheel whereby it may be readily actuated by the hand of the operator without removing the same from the steering wheel.

A still further object of the invention is to generally improve the construction and arrangement ofdevices of this general description.

With these ends in view, this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and then specifically designated by the claims. p

In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains, may understand how to make and use the same, I will describe its construction in detail, referring by numerals to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application in which Fig. 1, is a fragmentary plan view of an automobile steering wheel assembly show ing my invention applied thereto.

Fig. 2, is a fragmentary vertical sectional view thereof with a diagram of the electrical circuits connected with certain signal devices.

Fig. 3, is a section at the line 3-3 of Fig.

4, is a section at the line 4-4 of wits Serial No. 616,281.

Fig. 7, is a similar view of a different form of the invention with one of the oscillating members in its normal position and the other in an operative position.

Fig. 8, is a fragmentary sectional view of nother modification. in

Fig. 9. likewise is a similar view of a still further modified form.

In carrying out my invention as embodied in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, 2 represents a steering post of ordinary or any desirable construction to which isfixed the steering wheel 3 comprising a bob 4. spokes 5 and rim 6.

In some suitable manner a cage or housing 7' is secured to the steering post or column and within this cage or housing are movably mounted the oscillatingmembers 8 and 9. here shown as segments of a sphere actuating abouta ball 10carried by the depending bracket-11 located within the cage orihousing and preferably formed as an integral partfthereo'f. v

3 The oscillating'r inembers 8 and 9 each carry. an'actuating member. 12 and 13- respectively, 'each of said actuatingmembers consisting of a-suit-able framework or spokes 14 and an arcuate hand portion" 15 crresponding-substantially to one-half of the rim 6 of the steering wheel adjacent to which they are 'located'rso 'as to"-be readily reached by the'hands of the'operator' without the necessity of removing the hands from the steering wheel andohe of these actuating members carries one of-the-elements-"ld, such as a spring socket, of a temporary holding means while the steering'wheel carries the" other or complementary member 17 of-said temporary'holding device, said complementary member-in this case being-a; studw This temporary holding means willhold the actu-' ating member 13 in a depressed position for a temporary period or until such time as the operator moves the actuating member upward a sufiicient'distance to disengage the element 16 from the element 17.

The oscillating members 8 and 9 are nor mallyheld in the' positions shown in Fig. 2 by means of a spring or springs 18 which engage the two oscillating members when only one spring is used biit where two springs are used they engage the bracketll in addition to fthe'oscillating members.

One of the oscillating members; as 8, carries a contact member 19 suitably insulated therefrom which-when the oscillating memher is actuated is adapted to engage a contact member from which leads a-- -onductor 21 to a signaling device 22 suchas an electrically actuated horn and from this signaling device leads another conductor 23 to the source of electrical energy 24 such as a battery while from this source of electrical energy leads another conductor 25 to the bracket 11 the current being carried by said bracket and the spring 18 to the contact. member 19 thereby completing the circuit for actuating the signaling device 22.

The other oscillating member, as 9, carrics a contact member 26 which is adapted to engage either the contact 27 when'said oscillating member is in its normal position or the contact member 28 when moved by the depression of the actuating member 13. From the contact member 27 leads a conductor 29 to one of the poles of each of the electric lamps 3O while-from the-other pole of. each of said lamps leads aconducto'r. 31 to one side of the source of electrical energy or battery 24=the balance of the circuit'forsaid lamps including the conductor 25, bracket 11 and spring 18. From the contact member 28 leads a conductor 32 to one side of! a'suitable resistance 33 While the other sideis connected with'some portion-of the conductor 29 for connection-with the lamps -'while the balance of :-thecircuitrisi-the s'ame as' hereinbefore described. From this-it," willbe seen that so long as the-oscillating itiemberiB is in its normal position the'electric current may pass through the lamps 30 but-whefn-its actuating member 13 is-depressed'E-thi sfcin cuitwill be broken; andanew'one settup through the c'ond'uctor 32 and" the? resistance 33 thus' diminishingi-the -current 's-passing through -the lamps -=so:.-that .;thy-inwill be dimmed which is advantageous when traveling through congested-tralficu: ow-w :f

In traveling along poorIydighte'd-iroads it is desirable to-"have-very strong. lights except when passingother vehicles-so-that' by slight- 1y depressing 'the actuating'member' m the resistance 33 will becutjniandithus dim the lights but as soon as the actuating-'member2 is released the spring -18 will retnrd zthe parts to. their normal positions but'when traveling along a. road-that iswv'ell-ilighted: such as a city street, the lightsi-should remain dimmed and-this may beaccomplished' by depressing the actuating --member ---13 sufficiently to causethe element 16 of-the temporary holding device to engage theelement l'r'thus holding the'actuatin'g member 13 in a depressed condition the desired: length of time without an operators-han being continually upon the same;

As the hand portion 15 of each actuating member extends substantially" half "way around the steering wheel rim said hand portions ill always be within easy access of the operators hands regardless of the position of the steering wheel eliminating the necessityicof. removing the hands from the steering wheel for'operatmg said act-re ating members thus greatly reducing the possibility of accidents l n FigJTis illi'istr'ated -a casing or housing 46 tobe mounted upon the top of the steering column having a socket portion 47 in which are movably nounted the oscillating members 4-8 and 49 which are guided by and operate, about theheadiifi of the throttle lever 51 saidhead having ajtube i32 passing down through the-steering column andwithin this tulle-is mounted-the stem 53 of the spark advancing mechanisn'i and' this stem carries the spark lever 5st.v 1 Y i Each of the oscillating members 48 and carries an actuating member. 55 consisting of the spider 56 and the arcnate portion 57 and each-of these actuatinggnembers is held in ,its normalposition byd-a spring .58 as SbOWELJVitll relation to the oscillating membt'l' L 'I :.i.

One? side of the electricalcircuit connected aritha thejaudible signaling de'vice is represented bythe condncton 59iconnecte'dain any suitable manner with theiosoillating member 19 while the otherside ofrthe circuit'zrepresented-by. the conductor60iisiconnected to the{ .-cont-ae t ,member' 61 witlmfavhich the oscillating tinemberfi'ifl'ooacts totcloseithecircllitewhiloe one vsidejilaf anothcrscircui't ,repreisented by the conducton62ris connected with the other: oscillating inelnben 5&8 carrying a contact mem'ber 63 ior engage'mentrwith the contact member 64, tO-wWhlClii tleadsrithe. cone ductor 65 of the other side of the fullicircuit orgthe. con act-i membem66 tofl bich ilea'ds; the conductorfiezozftthe otlirsilde oifi the dimmer -=1 iffiiifli'fifli auziamois to at: 5 h' m 'i .aWVhen' the actuatihg niembr'o f the oscillating member 49 is depressed as shown the electrical? circuit! Neill abs.- z'completed or roperated .=.-in the? isignalingzzfierwiceriandf as isoon as the pressure: (further-actuating membervi's released I this spring -58: will return. the "pants to: their a Enorrnalo position: xLikewzise when theszactuating mmben-ofr theu'oscillatn'ng member 48 is depressed the dimmer circuit will' be closedso thatwthealights-will be reduced in :intensityi-but ass'oon 1ass tlie=zpres sure on the-actuatinginemberiisireleased the parts will be; returned to. theposition shown by the :ot-her spring Z58atlferebi completing the circuit through the; unobstructed line so that the lights -will give forth their":- full Power. i "a 5 In Fig. 8, I have shown another form of my invention wherein '7fisrepresents'a housing or casing for attachment to a steering column aud t-his casing carries an upright 71 aligning with a hole 72- in the cap 73 of the casing and on this upright 7-1 are fiilcrumed the oscillating members- 74:- and 75"each'o't said oscillating members having an'extension 76 projecting through the hole 72 and each of these extensions carries an actuating member 77, the spiders 78 of which are shown, the balance of the actuating members being similar to that above described shown in Figs. 1 and 7.

These oscillating members are held in their normal positions by springs 79 arranged beneath said members between them and'some suitable portion of the housing.

One of the oscillating members, as 74, carries a contact member'- 80 for engagement with either of the contacts 81 and 82 connected with the electrical circuits as hereinbefore described, while the other oscillating member 75 carries a contact 83 for' coaction with the contact 84 which are connected with another electrical circuit as before described.

In Fig. 9, I have illustrated a slight variation of the structure wherein the casing or housing 109 whichis mounted upon the steering column is provided with a plurality of inwardly projecting supporting fingers 110 intermediate its-height, thus separating the interior of the casing,- to some extent, into two compartments while the-"inner ends-of said supporting fingers are spaced apart. Within 'the"casing 'or housing is located a longitudinal or vertical bracket 111 which passes through the space between the supporting fingers and carries a ball 112 located within the space between said supporting fingers.

Within the casing are located the oscillat-- ing members 113 and 114 one of which is on each side of the bracket 111 and each of these oscillating members comprises a head 115 adapted to work within that portion of the casing above the supporting fingers, a reduced neck 116 within the space between the supporting fingers, and a body 117 working within that portion of the casing below the supporting fingers. Each of these oscillating members also has anarcuate recess 118 in the region of the neck portion for coaction with the ball 112. Further the oscillating members have notches or recesses 119 into which project the contact members 120 and 121 the latter coacting with the oscillating member 114 and being connected with one side of an electrical'circuit leading to a signaling device while the oscillating member 114 is connected with the other side of said circuit so that when depressed as shown the circuit will be closed. The contact 120 is connected to one side of a dimmer circuit while another contact 122 is connected to one side of the full light circuit and the oscillating member 113 which coacts with both of these last named contacts and is connected with the other side of the light circuit.

In order to hold the oscillating members in their normal positions which is the position in which the member 113 is shown, I provide a spring 123 for each oscillating member which coacts with the heads thereof as the movable elements andwith the supporting fingers 110 as the stationary members and these oscillating members carry the actuating members 124 similar-to those above described, the spiders 125 of which are shown.

Of course I do not wish to be limited to the exact details of construction as herein shown as these inay be varied within the limits of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and useful is:-

1. A. 'circuit clo'er including a casing mounted'upon the column of a steering wheel assembly, oscillating members within said casing and an actuating member carried by each of the oscillating members, said actuaring members including arcuate hand portions extending around two opposite portions of the steering =wheel concentric therewith.

2.: The combination with a steering wheel assembly including a steering wheel: and a steering column onwhich it is mounted, of .a c'asingsupported by the column. oscillatingme'm'bers located within the casing. an actuating membercarri'e'd b "'e" ach of the oscillating members ahd includin'g 'a spider and a hand portion extending around substantially one-half of the circumference of the steering wheel in proximity to the rim thereof, means for maintaining the oscillating members in a normal position, contact mem bers carried by the oscillating members and connected with one side of electric circuit 3. contact member within the casing connected with the other side of one circuit for coaction with the contact member of one of the oscillating members a pair of other contact members within the casing with which the contact of the other oscillating member coacts when the oscillating member is in different positions, one of the last named contacts being connected with the other side of the second circuit and the other of said last named contacts being connected with the third circuit.

3. The combination with a. steering wheel assembly including a steering column and a steering wheel thereon, of a casing supported by the column, a contact member within the casing and connected with one side of an electric circuit, an oscillating member mounted Within the casing, a contact member carried by said oscillating member connected with the other side of the electric circuit and operatively engageable with the first named contact member for closing the circuit, a spring for normally holding the oscillating member in a position to hold the contacts out of engagement, and an actuating member carried by the oscillating memher. said actuating member comprising a spider projecting toward the rim of the steeling wheel, and an arcuate hand portion coinoiding with the curvatureof the steering wheel and extending around substantially onehalf thereof.

4. The combination with a steering Wheel assembly including a steering column, a steermg wheel. a throttle lever having a head, a portion of which is of circular formation and a spark lever having a shank passing through the head of the throttle lever, of a casing mounted upon the steering column and surrounding portions ofisaid levers, said casing having a socket therein. oscillating members mounted within the socketportion of the casing and operable about the circular portion of the throttle lever, means for actuating said oscillating members comprising spiders and :hand portions carried by said spiders, said hand portions extending around substantially one-'halfof thesteering wheel diametrically opposite each-other and coinciding with the curvature-of said steering wheel, and means foni'naintaining'the oscillating members with their component parts in their normal positions. I

5. The combination with a steering wheel assembly including a steering column, a steering wheel, a-throttle lever having a head. a portion of which is of circular formembers comprising spiders and handportions carried'by said spiders, said'hand portions extending around substantially onehalf of thesteering wheel diametrically opposite each other and coinciding with the curvature of said steering wheel, springs lo- .cated Within the casing and engaging portions of said casing and theactuating niem bers for normally forcing them in an 'upward direction, and contact members located within thecasingand connected avith one side of an electric circuitwith-Ywhich the oscil- GEORGE wl-t'seiwi 

